Girls Volleyball

Seniors key Patriots' win in tourney opener

Enlarge ImageBuy This PhotoJOSHUA A. BICKEL/THISWEEKSPORTSOlentangy's Kali Cahill (16) celebrates after winning a point during a match against Orange earlier this season. The Braves were 20-4 before playing Dublin Scioto in a Division I district semifinal Oct. 23.

The Olentangy Liberty High School girls volleyball team opened the Division I district tournament with a 25-23, 25-16, 25-22 home win over 17th-seeded Pickerington North in the second round Oct. 16.

The 11th-seeded Patriots, who had a first-round bye, improved to 16-7 and played 22nd-seeded Hilliard Darby in a district semifinal Oct. 23. The winner faces top-seeded DeSales or 28th-seeded Central Crossing in a district final Saturday, Oct. 26, at Whitehall.

"All three seniors played very well in our first tournament match," coach Jen Chapman said. "Both (opposite hitter) Addie Nossaman and (middle hitter) Brooke Knollman contributed with 13 kills each and (setter) Ellie Schramm contributed to the win with 34 assists."

The district champion will advance to face Grove City, New Albany, Westerville Central or Worthington Kilbourne in a regional semifinal Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Hilliard Davidson.

Liberty, which was a district finalist last year, did not play DeSales, Grove City, Kilbourne or New Albany during the regular season.

Braves win first two tourney matches

Olentangy won its first two matches in the Division I district tournament and was 20-4 before facing 12th-seeded Dublin Scioto in a semifinal Oct. 23.

The eighth-seeded Braves defeated 20th-seeded Dresden Tri-Valley 25-12, 18-25, 25-23, 25-21 in the second round Oct. 16 at home after beating 40th-seeded Columbus West 25-8, 25-5, 25-7 in the first round Oct. 14 at home.

"We started strong, but then (Tri-Valley's) two big strong middle hitters really gave us trouble in the second (game)," coach Michelle Mimna said. "... It was a tough second-round match, but a good win."

The Olentangy-Scioto winner will play second-seeded Dublin Coffman or 21st-seeded Canal Winchester in a district final Saturday, Oct. 26, at Bloom-Carroll. The district champion will advance to a regional semifinal Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Davidson, where it will face Davidson, Gahanna, Hilliard Bradley or Lancaster.

"If we control our unforced errors and serve and pass like we normally do, we have a great shot (to keep) winning," Mimna said.

Olentangy did not play any of the teams it would meet in a district final or regional semifinal during the regular season.

Pioneers fall in first round of tourney

Orange lost to 15th-seeded Gahanna 25-7, 25-17, 25-13 in the first round of the Division I district tournament Oct. 15.

The Pioneers, who were seeded 25th, finished 7-16.

"Got to give (Gahanna) credit. They did an excellent job of controlling the net against us," coach Ed Marsman said. "We finished the season with various injuries and illnesses and had a difficult time getting any kind of defensive rhythm. Because of (those factors), we were not able to mount a consistent attack, which we needed to keep Gahanna off balance."